Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Chapter 98

ASHTON

I can’t believe father. What sick joke is he trying to play with us right now? He really invited his bastard son to our mansion? How dare him bring Josh in here to have lunch with our mother?

Father ignores our death stares and waves Josh in.

"Barbara, you remember Josh, right? He works with us at the HQ."

"Yes. Hello Josh." Mom beams at Josh as he edges closer. "Who can forget this hardworking young man? Josh Randall, right?"

"Yes ma’am."

"Hi Mr. Randall. Nice of you to join us." Demi utters with a smile.

"Thank you, Demi."

"I think I met your mother at the last AGM. Kristy Randall." Mother adds.

Beside her, father almost chokes. Good for him. He wants to play dirty? Four can play that game. I give my brothers just one look and we all return to our seats. I’ll handle this.

Josh offers mom an expensive bottle of wine as a token of appreciation for being invited to eat with us. Oliver’s replacement, a new face in a clean-cut suit, accepts the drink and disappears into the kitchen. Josh slips into his chair and nods at father.

"I’ve met Kristy too. She came by my office to buy a car a while back."

"Really?"

"Yes mom." I exchange looks with Josh and father. "She had A LOT to say to me about my looks and how she doesn’t think they match up with father’s looks in his hay days."

Josh laughs. "My mom likes to make small talk every chance she gets. Where there isn’t anything to be discussed, she has a penchant for making things up." He places his napkin on his thigh and steals a glance at father who is busy watching me.

"I met Kristy at the AGM too. I recall the long, nasty red nails." Asher quips with a sly smile. "In fact, father recently demanded something of me. He requested I go over and have lunch with..."

"BOYS, SHALL I HAVE A WORD?" Father asks, leaping to his feet. He leans down to press a kiss to mother’s forehead. "We’ll be brief, darling. Do keep Josh company in the meantime. Josh, consider this your second home and help yourself with anything you like. I’ll just be back."

I drop my cutlery with a loud clatter, glare at father before joining my brothers to his study. Inside, father shuts the door so no sound can escape.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BRING HIM HERE!" I begin impatiently. "How could you think to disrespect our mother like that? Do we look like a joke to you? It’s bad enough that you cheated on her with Josh’s mom and even sired a son. You know how much that would crush her and yet you bring Josh in here for what? How do you think she will feel when she finds out the entire truth eventually and remembers this day?"

"The least you should have done is keep the product of your disgraceful act as far away from my mother as possible." Ashal blurts out with red rimmed eyes. "Don’t delude yourself by thinking we can ever accept Josh as part of our family. We will never hold hands around a fire and sing kumbaya, you get it?"

Father sinks into his chair and regards us with a hand under his chin.

"What are you going to do next? Invite that cheap whore who birthed your son to share a meal with our mother too?"

"Watch your mouth, Asher. This is all thanks to you. If you had done as I had asked and had a simple lunch with Josh and his mother instead of insulting them badly, I would have had the heart to turn down Josh’s request to have lunch with us like this."

"Are you kidding me?" I lash at him. "That’s your grand excuse for breaking your promise to us by bringing Josh in here?" I slam my hands on his desk. "You have two minutes to make him leave or I will personally reveal what a cheating, lying scumbag you are to mother!" My heated glare cuts through father’s defensiveness and I watch his shoulders sag.

"You wouldn’t dare, Ashton."

I scoff at him. "Mom’s going to find out anyway, right? How about today? How about now?" I turn and head for the door. "LET’S ALL BE MAD TOGETHER."

"ASHTON! GET BACK HERE. YOU THREE, GET YOUR BROTHER!"

But nobody moves to stop me. Father rushes out of his chair as I yank the door open and head for the dining area. With father and my brothers on my tail, I circle the table to go stand next to Josh who is smiling gaily as mother regales him and Demi with a few stories. They’ve barely touched their meals. The trio look up as the table is surrounded.

"Something wrong?" Mom asks, looking around.

"Are you going to ask him to leave or do

on, Ashton? Who wants Josh to leave? He hasn’t done anything wrong and he

it, Demi, please." I tell her as politely as

down, Demi." Ashley yells at her. Surprisingly, she plunks down on her seat with

on here?" Mom asks, rising. Father looks defeated as he glances

to meet again. I’d love to hear more stories about

so he can leave unfettered. "Good bye, Randall. Don’t ever stop

sorry about my sons. I have no idea why

cheek. She also apologizes to him. After he leaves, she glares at my brothers and I.

hell was that?" Mom thunders. "How could you all band together to embarrass that young man like that? What has he ever done

tells her but

childish mischief. How can you possibly defend yourselves right now?"

time to tell you that Josh Randall is not the sweet and kind gentleman he claims to be. Have you forgotten so soon how he lied against us over the incident at the club few months back? That punk lied

I have seen firsthand how you guys behave around him. It isn’t

crosses to take mom’s hand. "We are not animals, mom. If we can’t stand that man, trust that it’s because he is a very bad person. He didn’t just lie about us and try to tarnish our image, he also

"What?"

you so you wouldn’t get worried. Josh had stabbed his arm with a shard of broken glass. He bled out badly. The scar is still there.

me and grabs my hands. "Is that true? Where is it? Where did you get hurt? Why

to be a saint in front of people he hopes to impress like you and father but underneath, he’ll bury a dagger in our chests if he could

"Don’t say that."

to gloss over the evil in his heart. Please, make sure father never invites that man back into this house or we’ll do worse than throw him out. We’ll make sure he is rushed to the

bobs her head. She kisses my cheeks and goes around my brothers

I misunderstood you. I

kisses her hair. Hooking an arm over her shoulder, he escorts her to her room. The rest of us are left with just Demi who is still reeling in shock over what Ashley

didn’t know Josh hurt

interrupts, edging close to her. "Did you have something to do with Josh being here?" He narrows his eyes at her. The rest of us also turn to Demi. Asher had mentioned that Demi might have overheard him talking to Josh in his office and deduced that Josh is

that door. How exactly am I supposed to invite someone to have lunch with our family when I don’t own the mansion?

him at work if

been more helpful and friendly towards me than my own brother-in-law and boss. Besides, if he was truly the devil as you all make him out to be, father would probably not be fond of him. I’m sorry but I won’t refuse his friendship or give him the cold shoulder simply because you all hate him. Whatever issue you’ve

later, my brothers and I are in game room. Ashley is

up." He blurts out. We all wait a beat for the

"What?" We all gasp.

That woman is bad news too,

could Ashley do that? He literally gave me hell over my feelings for Demi and kept chanting about wanting a shot with her. I finally removed myself from the picture and he decides

planned to make a life with her. While everyone cautions and chides him over his poor decision to keep Nicci in his life, Ashley doesn’t break his gaze which is trained in my direction. I also pin him with a hot

me. Mom suspected that Demi was pregnant so Demi took a test." My anger fades to surprise at his words. While Asher grits his teeth and Ashal

would be relieved but instead, I felt a bit sad. I didn’t realize

for you. Why would you want to start a family with such a woman. Ashal, can you talk to him? I am done trying to convince him not to ruin his

love of your partner. Where the love is unrequited, you two just becomes bitter parents

to win Demi over and have a baby with her or should I give up and divorce her in six

He’s baiting me.

what plans she’ll come up with next to keep you tied to

Ashley’s eyes darken.

a chance at love. On the other, you’re still sleeping with your ex who, might I add, was just uncovered as the mastermind behind your most recent traumatic experience. I don’t care

moving on from my wife? The love in your relationship is also unrequited and if Mila ever wants a baby, you’ll give it to her just to douse any suspicions about your loyalty. Ashal, you’re very much in the same boat as me. Asher, you’ll never marry for love because you don’t believe in it. You’ll marry whomever father asks you to on command and make babies if need be. If you all can do that and not be made to feel like crap about the tenor of your relationships, why can’t I? Why is everyone pushing for me

says

hands in his pocket. "Like I told father and mother, every decision to be made regarding my marriage with Demi, whether we remain together or divorce, have babies or not, will be made exclusively by Demi and I. I don’t appreciate anyone dumping their opinions about that particular matter on me. As for Nicci, consider it as me upholding the wisdom nugget that says keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She still has her uses, thanks to Demi’s

still has stones to throw my

***

brothers converse, I excuse myself to go handle some private matters. Ashal notices my exit and comes rushing after

okay? You have my word. I just want to get to the bottom of you know what so I can nip it in the bud. I

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